B-Mets Return From AS Break Triumphantly With Two Wins

Binghamton 6, Portland 5

Binghamton 4, Portland 0

The Binghamton Mets came back from the All-Star Break by picking up two victories over the Portland Sea Dogs on Thursday night at NYSEG Stadium. The first was resumed from a suspended game from June 25 in Portland, and the B-Mets won, 6-5. Binghamton then won the seven-inning nightcap, 4-0.

Resumed Game
The B-Mets and Sea Dogs picked things up in the top of the third inning with no score, and Binghamton acting as the visiting team. The score remained scoreless until Allan Dykstra blasted a two-run shot over the right field wall in the fourth inning to put Binghamton on top, 2-0.

Cory Mazzoni started the resumed game for the B-Mets, but exited after 1.1 innings. With a 3-2 count on Garin Cecchini, Mazzoni was removed from the game with a lower body injury. Jim Fuller took over with one out in the fourth and gave up an RBI single to Travis Shaw making it a 2-1 game.

In the bottom half however, Portland built an impressive comeback. After three runs scored against Fuller in the inning, he was yanked for Chasen Bradford who made his Double-A debut. He was welcomed to the league with back-to-back RBI doubles by Shannon Wilkerson and Tony Thomas, as Portland pulled within one run at 6-5. He escaped the jam by striking out Cecchini to hold the lead.

Bradford settled down and tossed a scoreless eighth inning, and closer Jeff Walters threw a perfect 1-2-3 ninth inning to earn his 23rd save of the season.

Game Two
A combination of good pitching and collective hitting led Binghamton to a 4-0 win over the Sea Dogs in the nightcap. Noah Syndergaard started the game, and only allowed one hit in his two innings of work. He was limited to two innings as he prepares to throw in the 2013 Futures All-Star Game at Citi Field on Sunday.

The offense got going immediately behind Syndergaard. Against Portland pitcher Mike McCarthy, Cesar Puello hit an RBI single into left field to put Binghamton up, 1-0. The hit was the third consecutive single to start the game for the B-Mets.

They continued to record base hits against McCarthy, but couldn’t find the scoreboard again until the fifth. The inning nearly mimicked the first inning for the B-Mets. Once again Muno, Rodriguez, and Puello each singled to begin the inning. Puello’s single brought home Muno to give Binghamton a 2-0 lead.

Meanwhile on the mound, Ryan Fraser tossed three scoreless frames after relieving Syndergaard. The righty allowed three singles over three innings and picked up his first Double-A win of the season.

Binghamton wrapped up their scoring in the bottom of the sixth. Muno hit a sacrifice fly to score Darrell Ceciliani, and Rodriguez followed with an RBI single to score Xorge Carrillo.

Both Chase Huchingson and Scott Atchison each threw a perfect inning of relief to seal the victory for the B-Mets. Fraser (1-1) earned the win and McCarthy (0-2) was tagged with the loss.

The B-Mets (55-33) and Sea Dogs (45-44) continue their series on Friday night at NYSEG Stadium. First pitch is set for 7:05 PM as LHP Mark Cohoon takes the mound against RHP Keith Couch for Portland.

Satish Ram is the MiLB editor at Mets Merized Online and one of the two Executive Editors and Co-Owners here at MetsMinors.net. You can reach him at facebook.com/SatishRam or follow him on Twitter at @SilverHeatMMO.